by Raathi Chota
“She’s just a friend!” Carter yelled.
“Oh, please, Carter. I can see right through this bimbo!” She pointed at me.
“Excuse me?” I stated, but neither of them took notice.
“She’s not a bimbo! She has a boyfriend, Mom. She was just helping me get home!”
“Bullshit! Her boyfriend must suck for trusting you!” she exclaimed then shoved her index finger in his chest. My mouth fell open, and I wanted to go all out on her. It was clear the reason why Carter had never spoken about his family. All I knew was that his older sister studied in the UK.
“Leave me alone and stop comparing me to Dad,” Carter said through gritted teeth then took my hand. He pulled me away from his mother and down the hall. I looked over my shoulder to see her shake her head and light a cigarette.
“Yeah, that’s right. Go do the one thing you’re good at.”
We entered his room, and I noticed all the books on the bookshelf, on the bed, windowsill, desk, and near his closet. He shut the door and cussed like there was no tomorrow. I turned around to face him and frowned.
“I’m sorry for my mother acting like that,” he mumbled and cleared his bed and offered me to sit.
“It’s okay, but why? How long has it been going on? Who else knows?” I blurted out as he sat next to me.
“Well, my dad was having an affair, and my mother didn’t take it too well since he’d literally bring the girl home. When they got divorced and he left, she took it out on me because I look exactly like him.” He mumbled the last part and looked away. “Ever since I was thirteen, it’s been going on. Nothing physical, just verbal. My mom is heartbroken, and she takes it out on me. My sister couldn’t handle it, so she worked her butt off then went to study in the UK. Mom was proud of her but just saw hatred in me,” he whispered, and I held his hand for comfort. “I thought my sister was leaving me, but she said I must prove Mom wrong, that we should be alone and figure it out, and so I am,” he said. “I got a letter back from Yale, and they want to have an interview with me in the city.”
My jaw dropped, and the biggest smile grew on my face. I squealed and opened my arms as I said, “Congratulations! Oh my god, yeah, prove her wrong!”
“Don’t celebrate just yet. They just want to see who I am and get to know me.”
“Okay, but that’s good. By your application, it means that they’re interested in you.” I smiled, and he nodded. “Does your mom know?”
“No, as far as she knows, I’m just wasting my life.”
“Who else knows about it?” I trailed off.
“Blake. When I became friends with Aidan in freshman year, he introduced me to his cousin, Blake, who always visited from Minnesota. When we hung out that summer, we just became close, I guess. One night, he slept over and heard how my mother went on,” he said. “Then came junior year and Blake visited again. He was staying here, and right in front of us she said she’d rather have Blake as her son than me.” He bit his lip. “Blake just lost it and told her off. His dad was going through chemo at the time, so he was quite stressed out too. He told her how she’d be grateful for everything she has because his uncle was taking everything from them at the time.” I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Mom got angry then kicked both of us out, so for the rest of summer break, we stayed at Ethan’s.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said as I rubbed my thumb against his hand.
“It’s okay.” He smiled, and I slowly stood up and realized I’d be late.
“Come to the diner with me tomorrow,” I said as Carter stood up too. He gave me a confused look, and I rolled my eyes. “Tomorrow pick me up, and we’ll go to the diner. Levi has a lot of explaining to do, and I’ll need your support, even though you knew.” He awkwardly scratched behind his neck.
“So that’s why the party finished early,” Carter said. I hugged him then spun around to walk out of his room.
“Thank you, my sexual tension friend,” he called out, and my cheeks reddened as I picked up my pace.
***
I stared at the dining table as I chewed my food. My dad and Uncle Griff spoke while Mom was in the kitchen. When I got home, I showered since I still had a bit of the sewer smell on me. I wore a plaid shirtdress with my Converse. Mom sat next to me and offered rice, but I declined. I hadn’t spoken once since I got home. The fact that they knew Levi got expelled and didn’t even try to help disgusted me. We’d known him for fourteen years, yet the Gunners only knew him for three months. They took him in with open arms while my dad said he couldn’t stay here. Then it hit me when Levi and I bought such an expensive gift for Mrs. Gunner. It was a weekend at the beach house, and he insisted we should get it for her. I remembered he said she had to use it before spring break, and I guess it was this weekend she decided to go. That’s why Blake also said it’s their last party.
“Linda wanted to come tonight. I don’t know how she found out.” Mom huffed as she poked her food. “I wouldn’t want her here anyway with those five kids.”
“Why didn’t you invite Levi?” I asked, and Dad and Uncle Griff stopped mid-sentence. “Since he’s like y’know…here.” I shrugged and sipped my apple juice. I glanced up at Uncle Griff, who sat opposite me. He turned to my dad, and they shared a look. “But we wouldn’t have to invite him if he was just, y’know…staying here.”
“Lana, he couldn’t stay here. I wouldn’t allow it,” Dad said through gritted teeth.
“Why not? Why couldn’t he stay with you then?” I pointed to Uncle Griff since he lived in a lavish apartment.
“He wanted to stay with the Gunners,” he answered with a sighed. “We wanted to tell you, Lana, but Levi said he’d tell you himself.”
“The fact that Richard and Jade are entirely okay with all of this shocks me,” Mom said.
“Levi chose to come here. He chose to be independent; he’ll be twenty this year. It’s about time he looks after himself,” Dad grumbled.
“Yet he couldn’t stay here!” I laughed bitterly then stood up. I walked out of the dining room. My parents called me, but I ignored them and headed for my room. I ran a hand through my hair then heard my door open. I didn’t even bother to turn around as my lower lip trembled.
“So I’m assuming Levi told you?” Uncle Griff guessed, and I laughed.
“Nope. I went to Blake’s house and caught him there,” I said and spun around to face him. “He was having the time of his life laughing, smoking, and having girls all over him. Not a care in the world.” I sighed. “While I was missing Levi so much and suffering, he talked to me every night and assured me everything was gonna be okay! He listened to me when I cried about Benny, when I groaned about school, and the most important, he saved me from doing something foolish.” I whispered the last part. “Yet all along he was just on the other side of the door!” I snapped as my breaths quickened.
“Yes, he was, but he had a reason, Lana!” Uncle Griff raised his voice. “He called me one night and said he’s afraid to tell you, that he shouldn’t tell you anyway because you’ve moved on. You have a boyfriend and a lot of friends, and he felt excluded.”
“That’s not true. I care for him so much.”
“I know, yet I understood what he meant because when your parents had you, I felt left out that I didn’t have my best friend anymore.” He stepped toward me. “But then I remembered the day you were born. I waited for him because he was on patrol, then Angie came into the living room saying her water broke. I took her to the hospital and waited for hours, then at eight p.m. on June sixteenth, you were born. I obviously gave your parents time, but they called me in and said I’m part of the family now and that I’d make an awesome godfather.” The corner of my mouth rose. “What I’m trying to say is Levi might feel left out, but I can see you two really care about each other. Neither distance nor time will keep you two apart.” He pulled me in for a hug. “Besides, those tattoo crowns gotta touch sooner or later.”
I pulled away and paled as Uncle Griff smirked at
me. I backed away and awkwardly rubbed my arm. “Please don’t tell Mo—”
“Don’t worry, Lana. Your secret’s safe with me.” He smiled.
“Sorry for earlier. I was just upset that everyone was keeping him from me,” I said as we slowly walked out of the room.
“It’s a natural reaction, but just know that your father wants you safe, even if it means keeping you from the people you love.”
***
I walked into the diner with Carter by my side. From what the guys said yesterday and what Uncle Griff said last night, I couldn’t imagine what Levi had done. I looked around to see Levi, Keene, and Blake in a booth. We approached them, and I noticed that the diner wasn’t very full on a late Sunday morning.
“Hey, guys,” Carter greeted, and they simultaneously looked up. I gave a small smile and sat next to Blake. Carter sat next to me, and I stared at the table. Nobody spoke for a few minutes, yet I saw them mouth out words toward each other. Someone approached us and placed glasses down. I noticed a bubblegum milkshake being pushed toward me, and I slowly looked up to see Levi lower his head so that we were eye level.
“Got your favorite, princess.” I raised my head and noticed that everyone else had a different milkshake. I glanced up at Keene to see a look of guilt fill his features. He hadn’t said anything since yesterday. He sighed and took a straw and put it in my milkshake.
“This dude never puts a cherry on mine!” Carter exclaimed as he looked at the waiter.
“Dude, because you popped his sister’s cherry,” Blake stated as the waiter glared at us. I took the cherry from mine and put it on top of Carter’s whipped cream.
“It’s fine, I already have sprinkles and syrup,” I said and sipped my milkshake.
“Thanks.” He swung his arm around the seat. I quietly sipped my milkshake and locked eyes with Levi. He took one last sip then turned to Keene. He nervously bit his lip and tapped his fingers against the table.
“I went to go visit Levi in California last year a few weeks after the summer break. We went to this frat party, and this guy offered me ice,” Keene began, and I raised a brow as I looked at Levi, who gave me an assured look as Keene continued. “I kept telling him off, but he kept forcing me and following me around, so I bought some.” My eyes widened. “A few days later, I saw him again and wanted more, so he gave me some, but I didn’t have any more money. I asked Levi for help, and even our money put together wouldn’t pay it up. He said he wanted his money as soon as possible because his boss was waiting.” Levi lowered his head. “I didn’t have the money, so I decided to come back to Illinois and maybe…just maybe he’d forget about it. Apparently, they never forgot about it and showed up at Levi’s dorm one night.” I straightened my posture. Out the corner of my eye, I saw the chef glance at us. He looked away and continued his business in the kitchen.
“It was four guys, and one of them was James. The other three were Ernst, Mike, and Christo,” Levi said, and I squirmed when he said the last name. “He did the same thing he did to them.” He pointed at Carter and Blake. “Instead, I got ice, and James said it was hidden by Noel Brighton. They hid it everywhere in my dorm room, inside my mattress, in shoeboxes, and under the bed…wherever they could hide it, they did.” Levi sighed. “When they left, I called Keene, and he told Noel. All Noel said was don’t get caught.” Levi rolled his eyes and huffed. “I think he fucking jinxed me because a month later my roommate found out and fucking snitched on me.
“I got expelled and had a few days to get my ass off campus. Thank goodness James wasn’t there,” Levi mumbled, then Keene continued.
“I was doing three jobs, trying to get the money because James kept increasing it. I was at a gas station one day, and a truck drove by, and I recognized the driver as one of James’s men,” Keene said, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Carter raise his hand.
“That’s where we come in.” Carter sighed. “The day he saw that truck was the day we got arrested for the cocaine.”
“I-I’m sorry,” I blurted out.
“It’s not your fault. It’s Parker who stole the other two parcels.” Blake huffed as he patted my thigh.
“Yeah, but I didn’t know you guys at the time, so I thought he was here for me,” Keene mumbled. “So I became isolated and never stepped out of my apartment. Noel did all the grocery shopping when he came out of rehab, and the first time I went out of my apartment was when I left that dress in your room.”
I managed to crack a smile and glance at Levi. I still remember he told me that he delivered it to Keene’s apartment.
“What dress?” Blake and Carter asked in unison.
“Nothing.” Levi shook his head and cleared his throat. “A few weeks after I got expelled, I was home alone, and James and his men broke in. I thought they’d drop the ice, but instead, they tied me up and injected me with heroin,” Levi said, and I paled. He rolled up his black bomber jacket, and right there by his forearm was a little, tiny hole. “James was very pissed. He said it was my punishment and a warning before I came here. Then he mentioned you.”
“Wh-When was this?” I croaked out as Levi stared at me.
“After Thanksgiving, I think.” I closed my eyes because it was my fault. That’s why that one day I came home, Mom and Dad argued, probably because Richard and Jade told them about Levi. Maybe he drugged Levi with the heroin because he found out about Christo.
“So Levi being drugged was not only his punishment, but a warning for all of us,” Carter interjected, and I slightly nodded.
“What did he say about me?” I asked.
“He just said there are people in Illinois who’d love to see you, and then he said, ‘Say hello to your princess for me, and make sure you tell her everything this time,’” he mumbled. “Then when I came here, I spoke to your dad, and he said if I cared about you, I’d have to distance myself. Keene and I told him everything, and now that James knows us, your dad can’t risk any more people getting hurt.”
“Yet you not seeing me didn’t stop him. One of his men was in the house. I held a gun, and he broke my window, Levi,” I muttered. “James is watching us. He knew you never left.”
“And I’m sorry!” he suddenly burst out then took my hands in his. “I’m so fucking sorry for being a pussy lying asshole. I thought by not seeing you after winter break you’d be less of a target. You would be safe.”
“This is all my fault for wanting to smoke ice.” Keene huffed.
“No, man, it’s our fault. We’ve hidden the cocaine for two years. Not having all the parcels just made it worse,” Blake mumbled then slurped on his milkshake.
“It’s actually James’s fault. He loves to play games,” Levi said and stood up. Everyone else finished their milkshakes and followed. I stood up and looked for the restrooms.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Blake as he stood up to me. He looked at the bathrooms then at me. I rolled my eyes and walked off.
I washed my face then leaned on the sink as I stared at myself. I decided to wear contacts today—that made my eyes bluer and I guess more…alive. It still had to sink in that Levi and Keene went through all of that and they thought it’s their fault. I wanted to tell them, I honestly did, yet I didn’t know where to start or how to tell them. I washed my hands and shook them since there were no paper towels. As I turned the corner, I saw a figure, then someone pinned me against the wall. The person pressed their arm against my neck and used their other hand to grip my wrists together. I opened my eyes, and the color drained from my face as I saw the chef. Since we were close, I finally got a proper look at him to see that it was actually Ernst.
“What do you thin—” He cut me off as he cupped his hand over my mouth. I struggled under his grip, but he hushed me and looked around the corner.
“Listen to me, Lana! I’m warning you. James has cameras on all those boys!” Ernst hissed. “He’s coming for you, Lana. I don’t when or what James is planning next, but he’s going to get you.”
&nbs
p; “W-What does he want with me? It was self defe—”
“He doesn’t give a shit about Christo. He wants revenge. That day at the cottage, you made him the most wanted drug dealer in the country. Heck, even the people in South America don’t want him,” he yelled in a whisper as his grip tightened on my arm. “All of those guys out there. Blake, Ethan, Aidan, Carter, Keene, and Levi all have one thing in common, and that’s you. So that day in the cottage instead of killing all four of them and having bloody hands, he was going to take you.”
“Take me? W-Why?”
“He was definitely going to kill them just like he did with that guy on New Year’s. But he did his research on all of you, and something sparked his interest, so he wanted to see you suffer. He wanted to see all of you suffer,” he emphasized. “I’m warning you, James Cornelius is a man who always gets his way.”
“Why are you telling me this? You work for him,” I panted.
“Not anymore,” he said then took off the chef hat, which I assumed was his disguise, yet he still had the full fake beard. “I looked at his S1, S2, and S3 plans…they’re crazy.”
“What does that mean? Why is he doi—”
“He tells me you’re bad for her…”
“Who are you talking about? Who is sh—”
“Lana!” Keene called out, and Ernst dropped his arms and backed away.
“Be careful, Lana. He’ll do anything and everything for her,” Ernst said then pushed me around the corner. I took in a deep breath as I walked out of the restrooms. Keene waited by the door, and he eyed me up and down with a concerned look.
“Everything okay?” he asked as we walked out of the diner. I glanced over my shoulder to see Ernst walk into the kitchen with his hat.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Perfectly fine,” I mumbled and walked past Keene.
Chapter Two
Lana
